Traffic tie-ups and delays are a frequent experience in the lives of most Oxford residents, but a recent effort by students to promote the addition of bike lanes on campus roads turned into an unusual traffic jam that snarled Oxford traffic the Friday before Thanksgiving break.
On Friday, Nov. 16, approximately 30 Miami University students met at Millett Hall around 3 p.m. to participate in the demonstration. Luke Priddy, a first-year student, who along with four friends independently organized the event, led the group on a half-hour ride down Church Street into the uptown area of Oxford before making their way to the Shriver Center via Spring Street and finally back to Millett Hall.
According to Priddy, a long line of cars backed up behind the bicyclists as they rode through town.
"We tried to obey most of the laws," Priddy said. "We stayed on the right side of the road, going slow to slow down the cars behind us. We were spread out enough that cars couldn't get past us."
Priddy explained him and his friends organized the protest to raise awareness of the need for bicycle lanes on campus streets.
"The ultimate goal is to get bike lanes on campus, wherever possible," Priddy said. "We feel like it's hard for people who have bikes to ride on the road because it's dangerous or on sidewalks, since you have to go so slow, because there are so many people on the sidewalks."
Sophomore Benjamin Walker was not involved in Friday's demonstration, but strongly supports the motives behind the event.
"Bike lanes could improve the entire Miami and Oxford community," Walker said. "Having bike lanes on most of the main roads would be safer for current bikers and it would encourage more students to use bikes on campus."
Walker mentioned that increased bicycle usage would benefit both the health of Miami students and create a lessened impact on the environment, through conserving gasoline and lowering emissions.
Priddy added that there would be more events like this in the future, especially in the spring as the weather gets warmer.
Walker said that he plans to be involved in these future protests, stressing that nonviolent methods of protest can be very significant ways to affect positive change.
"I wouldn't have a protest, but more of a friendly demonstration," Walker said. "I think that real power comes from demonstration through nonviolent protest."
Priddy also mentioned that they have a petition circulating to encourage university administrators to take action on the issue.
According to Priddy, by the end of the ride through town, Miami University Police began to follow the students and waited nearby at Millett Hall as the group ended the demonstration. Priddy explained that the police were informed prior to the demonstration and seemed less than enthusiastic about the idea.
"They said they would prefer us not to do it, but if we did, they wanted us to stay in single file, which we didn't really do," Priddy said.
